17 August 2006 

REPEAT THE RU 486 SUCCESS -
ANOTHER CROSS PARTY BILL ON TRANSPARENT ADVERTISING NEEDED

A new Bill on transparent advertising for pregnancy counselling services is needed in light of the Senate Community Affairs’ Committee’s rejection of Senator Stott Despoja’s Transparent Advertising and Notification of Pregnancy Counselling Services Bill 2005 this morning.

The Australian Reproductive Health Alliance (ARHA) called on the authors of the Minority Report – representing the Labor Party, Greens and Australian Democrats – as well as Liberal Senator Judith Adams who provided additional comments, to jointly sponsor a Bill similar to that of Senator Stott Despoja’s.

ARHA’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms Christina Richards, says that a new Bill with cross-party support could be framed in a way such as to remove the objections that were the reasons for the Majority Report’s rejection of the original Bill.

“The Majority Report’s focus on constitutional validity, terminology and fines were ways of dodging the main issue which was simply to make advertising about pregnancy counselling services transparent and honest,” says Ms Richards.

Ms Richards said the Minority Report dealt very comprehensively with the main objections to the Bill contained in the Majority Report.

“The authors of the Minority Report and Senator Adams are best-placed to sponsor a new Bill that is clear about constitutionality and terminology.

“This will hopefully stop further misrepresentation of such legislation by those who seek to impose their  personal abortion  ideology on others,” says Ms Richards.

Further information: Chris Richards 02 6282 8925 or 0427884479

Jenny Goldie 6282 8922 (w) mobile: 0401 921 453

The Australian Reproductive Health Alliance (ARHA)
www.arha.org.au
Our mission is to promote public support for enhanced reproductive and sexual health in Australia and internationally, and promote the advancement of the status of women and girls.